Swedish Ambassador to Kenya, Caroline Vicini has lauded the Kilifi county government for implementating the mental health programme. – By Ramadhan Kambi.
Speaking at the Governor’s office in Kilifi town, Ms Vicini said the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic had pinned many people in the world and led to mental challenges which every government in the world needs to address at large.
“I was very uplifted to hear about the Kilifi mental health program. During this pandemic, we have been very eager to keep social distance that we don’t see the other side of it. For example what becomes of those hidden behind the closed doors of our homes, what about the people in isolation or those unable to interact with us as used to. I see that Kilifi County is forward kneeling to address those challenges,” said the ambassador.
She also hailed both the county and the national government on their efforts to address the issues of gender based violence which she said was a global problem that needs support of each person.
“We have seen increasing gender based violence not only in Kenya but even in my home country as well. Then we have the frustration of staying home after having lost jobs and having complicated economic situation and also the situation of having children at home is beyond measure for many people,” said Ms Vicini.
She lauded the ministry of education for its partial reopening of schools saying that children actual needs to be at schools despite challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I was happy today when I drove from the airport I saw many young children going back to school and I think that is really a great advantage for them to be able to take their schooling again,” she said.
Kilifi county health executive Charles Karisa who represented Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi said that the county had installed several mental centres in its health institutions around the county to address mental instability among residents.
“If you go to almost all our health institutions, we have a number of centres where we carry out mental assessment to our people. We understand that the current situation has led to many residents facing different mental challenges but we are addressing this as a county,” said Mr Dadu.
The ambassador is on a field mission tour together with its partners the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The ambassador will also visit Mombasa County.
